noun

right wing

RYTE WING

Right wing (noun) means the conservative side of politics, generally favouring free markets, traditional social values, strong national identity and limited state intervention in the economy. Example: “The party's right wing pushed back against the tax rise.”

noun

The conservative side of politics, generally favouring free markets, traditional social values, strong national identity and limited state intervention in the economy.

"The party's right wing pushed back against the tax rise."

"She built a career on the right wing of the movement."

In football, hockey and similar sports, the attacking position on the right-hand side of the pitch, or the player filling it.

"He started the second half on the right wing."

adjective

Belonging to or characteristic of the conservative side of politics. Usually written right-wing before a noun.

"A right-wing government took power after the election."

"The paper has a distinctly right-wing editorial line."

How to Use Right wing

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe conservative side in politics.

When to use it

Neutral as a description, though far-right and hard-right are pointed. Hyphenate before a noun (right-wing policies), leave open after a verb (the party is right wing). What counts as right wing varies sharply between countries.

Memory tip

Right wing describes a position on a spectrum, not a fixed set of policies — a right-wing party in one country may sit left of a centrist party in another.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

left wing far right libertarian → conservative →

Common pairings

far right right-wing populism hard right right-wing media

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The party's _____ pushed back against the tax rise.

Etymology

From the seating in the French National Assembly after 1789, where supporters of the king and the established order sat to the president's right and radicals to the left.

Origin: French

Synonyms

View more →

the right conservatives the political right conservative rightist reactionary right winger outside right

Antonyms

left wing the left left-wing progressive liberal

Related Words

large blue progress advanced liberal conservative progressive socialist

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between right wing and left wing?

Broadly, the right wing prioritises free markets, tradition, national sovereignty and a smaller state, while the left wing prioritises economic redistribution, social equality and a larger role for government. The labels are relative to each country's own political centre.

What is the difference between right wing and far right?

Right wing covers mainstream conservatism and is a normal part of democratic politics. Far right sits well outside that mainstream and typically involves ultranationalism, hostility to immigration and minorities, and in some cases rejection of democratic norms. The two are not interchangeable.

Why are they called wings?

The terms come from where members physically sat in the French National Assembly from 1789: defenders of the monarchy and the old order to the right of the presiding officer, revolutionaries to the left. The seating plan became the metaphor.

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